HIV/AIDS knowledge and practices of traditional health practitioners in Tutume sub district: Implications for collaboration in HIV/AIDs care in Botswana

Abstract

Introduction

Despite advocacy for collaboration by the World Health Organization, relationships between biomedicine health practitioners (BHPs) and traditional health practitioners (THPs) are still often characterized by indifference, suspicion, and mutual rejection. Furthermore, the number of studies on the use of TM and HIV/AIDS and collaboration between THPs and BHPs have not increased significantly. The aim of the study was to determine HIV/AIDS knowledge and practice of THPs and their views on collaboration with BHPs.

Methods

A cross sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 39 THPs using semi structured interviews. THPs were drawn from communities in Tutume sub district in Botswana, using snowball sampling.

Results

The mean age of THPs was 58.2 years, the majority 25 (64.1%) were males, and almost half 18 (46.2%) had no education. THPS had very low HIV/AIDS knowledge and none had participated in collaboration workshops. However, they had positive attitudes towards BHPs, viewed them as colleagues they would share knowledge with, refer patients to, and were eager to learn biomedical skills. The results also showed that THPs had misconceptions and low knowledge on the causes and diagnosis of HIV but knew that antiretroviral therapy can treat HIV/AIDS.

Conclusions

THP’s willingness to learn biomedical skills and share knowledge on traditional healing with BHPs have positive implications for collaboration in the sub district. Collaboration will increase the HIV/AIDS knowledge and practices of THPs.